Red Leaves Of Fall
A/N: I know I said I would take a break between writing but I lied. So here is a brand new story. So please read it and let me know what you think. Big thanks to those of twitter who gave me the confidences to write another story.
Disclaimer: Have no rights to the show. Meh.
There were times when Lisbon wished she could completely forget a case and this was one of those times. Dropping off her keys and cell phone on the kitchen table she headed toward the stairs to her bedroom. All she wanted to do was take a long hot shower and have a drink or two in hopes of forgetting about the past three weeks.
As the hot spray of water worked the knots out of her neck and back she closed her eyes and immediately regretted it. The images of the young kids that were murdered came flashing into her mind. Six children murdered before the case came to her team. It was the murder of a prominent state member's daughter that required the involvement of Bertram and his best team. So the case was theirs. They had spent days talking to the victim's family and going over the old case files but nothing gave them leads to the killer. Even Jane was having a hard time trying to solve the case, which was something rarely seen by Lisbon.
The stress had pushed the team to the limit and there had been several arguments between them because of it. She and Jane had gone a few days without talking, and at some point the same thing happen between Cho and Rigsby. Even after they had solved the case, friendships and caring had been strained prompting Lisbon's order for the entire team to go home. She had only stayed around long enough to fill out the paperwork before leaving as well.
The hot water was turning colder by the second when she finally turned it off and got out to dry. Wrapping the towel around her body, she exited the bathroom in search for her jersey when she jumped at the sight of seeing Jane sitting on her bed with his head bent down, staring at the floor. After the stunt he pulled to get the killer she really didn't want to deal with him or see him for that matter.
"What the hell are you doing here?" Lisbon felt all the knots in her neck returning.
"I needed to clear my head." Jane said but didn't lift his head.
"So you thought you would do that here?"
"Seems like as good place as any."
"Jane, I'm tired and I don't want to deal with you anymore." Lisbon said as she wrapped her arms around herself. Jane looked up and caught her eyes.
"Now you know that isn't true." Jane smirked for a second before looking down again.
"Get out." Lisbon said as she walked by him snatching her jersey off the bed, headed back to the bathroom, and shut the door. She opened it a few moments later and was relieved to see that Jane had left the room. Heading over to the bed to lay down she heard a whistling sound from downstairs.
"Damn it, Jane." Lisbon muttered under her breath as she grabbed her robe of the hook on the door and headed down the stairs to the kitchen.
"I thought I told you to get out." She told him as she entered the kitchen and saw Jane making himself a cup of tea.
"You didn't mean it." He told her as he handed her a cup.
"Jane, it has been a long few weeks and I just want to sleep."
"The tea will help you sleep." Jane said as he pulled out one of the kitchen chairs and sat down.
"What is going on?" Lisbon asked him as she pulled out the chair next to him and sat down.
"Nothing."
"You're lying."
"You can't prove that."
"You forget that I know when you are lying." Lisbon pointed out.
"You only did that once and it was a lucky guess at that." Jane took a sip of his tea.
"I'm going to bed." Lisbon said as she got up and started to walk out.
"Can I stay here?" Jane's voice was barely above a whisper.
"You are always welcome here." Lisbon told him. "You can have the guest room."
"Thank you." Jane told her as he got to his feet, placing his teacup in the kitchen sink.
"Jane do you want to talk about it?" Lisbon asked suddenly.
"About what?"
"The case?" Lisbon told him.
"It was just another case." He replied as he walked over to her.
"No, it wasn't just another case."
"No, it wasn't."
"Jane, you know I'm here if you need to talk about it. I can't imagine what you are going through seeing that the kids that were killed here were about the same age as-" Lisbon couldn't bear to finish her sentence.
"As my daughter." Jane acknowledged. Lisbon nodded.
"That's why you didn't want to be alone tonight isn't it?" Lisbon asked as she placed a hand on his forearm. Jane swallowed before closing his eyes.
"Good night." Jane slipped away from her and made his way up the stairs to the guest room.
After two hours of tossing and turning Lisbon gave up on sleeping and headed down to watch some TV hoping that it would lure her into some sleep. Sitting down on the couch she turned on the TV and lowered the volume so she wouldn't wake Jane up.
"Anything good on?" Jane's voice drifted above her as he came down the stairs.
"I thought you were sleeping." Lisbon told him when he made his way over to her.
"You know that I never sleep." He told her as he sat down next to her. "Why aren't you sleeping?"
"Maybe I picked up your constant insomnia." Lisbon smiled at him as she watched the light from the TV play off his face.
"Do you want me to help you to fall asleep?" Jane asked.
"No." Lisbon looked away from him.
"Really?" Jane asked as he watched her.
"I am not going to allow you to use your tricks to help me sleep." She told him firmly.
"I wasn't going to use any of my tricks." Jane replied.
"Then how are you going to help me fall asleep?" Lisbon was now curious.
"Like this." Jane moved his hand to the back of her neck and started to massage the tight muscles.
"Mm." Lisbon sighed as she lower her head and moved closer to Jane so he could have better access to her neck.
"You spend way too much time doing paperwork."
"Paperwork that you caused. Most of it, anyway."
"Yeah, sorry about that." He whispered into her ear. Lisbon was startled that he had manged to move even closer to her. "Just relax."
"You've been saying sorry a lot recently." She told him.
"And I mean every one of them."
"I know." Lisbon turned her head closer to him and breathed in his scent.
"Feeling better?" He asked her.
"Yes." Lisbon opened her eyes and looked at him. He stopped moving his hand but didn't remove it from her neck. "Thank you."
"You're welcome."
"I should head to bed." She told him but didn't make an effort to move away.
"Yes, it is late."
"Yes."
He watched as Lisbon watched his eyes shift down to her lips and then back to her own eyes. He leaned down slowly and briefly touched her lips with his own before pulling back so he could judge her reaction. Lisbon smiled and that was all he needed before he leaned back down captured her lips again. Lisbon wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him closer to her. His tongue ran across her top lip asking silently for permission which she granted as she opened her mouth and allowed his tongue to duel with hers. He moaned as he deepened the kiss and laid back pulling her with him.
Lisbon broke the kiss and looked at him. "Jane."
"I know." He told her before he leaned up and captured her lips again. Lisbon sighed and allowed her hands to wander into his hair while his hands moved up and down her back. Breaking the kiss for the need of air Lisbon moved off of Jane and stood up. Turning off the TV she looked at back at him.
"Come." She said as she held a hand out to him. He took it willingly and followed her up the stairs to her bedroom. She walked over to the bed and pushed him to sit down.
"Are you sure about this?" Jane asked as he placed his hands on her waist.
"No, but it feels right." She told him before leaning down to kiss him quickly on the lips, allowing him to pull her jersey over her head.
The light streamed through the blinds as the morning sun began to rise. Jane opened his eyes and blinked several times as he became aware of his surroundings. Memories of last night came flooding back to him just as Lisbon snuggled closer to him. A smiled played on his lips at the sight of her. He had come to her place because he didn't want to be alone but he hadn't planned on spending the night with her in his arms. He felt her stir again and knew that she was waking up.
"Morning." He whispered. Lisbon slowly looked up and he felt her tenses up at the sight of seeing him first thing in the morning. He smiled at her reassuringly before leaning down to give her a quick kiss.
"Morning." Her voiced was full of sleep still. "How did you sleep or did you sleep at all?"
"Well after you tired me out I slept perfectly fine." He smiled at her. She slightly smacked him before moving out of his embrace. Jane suddenly felt cold without her being close.
"Jane, we need to talk about last night." Lisbon told him as she sat up a little in the bed.
"Hmm." Jane muttered as he closed his eyes leaning back against the pillow.
"Jane." Lisbon hissed.
"Yes, dear."
"Be serious for once."
"Teresa, last night happened. We can't take it back now." Jane told her as he kept his eyes closed.
"I don't want to take it back, but it does change things for us." Lisbon said. This time Jane did open his eyes and look at her.
"I know it does."
"And I'm not saying it just changes our friendship but we also have the problem of-" She began.
"Red John." He finished her sentence.
"Yes." Lisbon whispered. "So how are we going to do this." She asked as she gestured with her hand between the two of them.
"Oh, I've got a couple of ideas." Jane smiled.
"You know what I'm talking about."
"Do I?"
"We need to get up." Lisbon said, looking at the alarm clock on the table.
"Just call in sick." Jane suggested as his arms snaked around her waist and pulled her back to him.
"Not happening." She told him as she started to leave kisses on his neck.
"Liar." Jane told her as he placed his hand under her chin and forced her to look at him before he kissed her deeply. Pushing her down on the bed he moved on top of her as his hands began to roam.
Breaking the kiss she looked at him with a smirk. "Maybe taking a day off wouldn't be a bad idea."
"Now that is a brilliant idea, agent." Jane told her as he began to fiddle with the buttons on the shirt she was wearing. "Have I mentioned how sexy you look in my shirt?"
"Jane, shut up." Lisbon told him before pulling him into a kiss just as her phone rang.
"Crap." Lisbon stated as she yanked the phone off the table. "Lisbon"
Jane watched her face drop as she listened to the person on the other side. He knew that look all too well. Sighing he moved off of her and laid down next to her.
"Yes sir. We will be there as quickly as possible." Lisbon said as she hung up the phone and looked sideways at Jane. "We have a case."
"Why can't they just call another team?" Jane actually whined and Lisbon couldn't help but laugh at how pathetic he sounded.
"It is our turn but I'll make you a deal." Lisbon told him as she got out of bed.
"What are the terms of this deal?" Jane asked as he sat up.
"You behave yourself for the entire case and after we solve it then I will take a few days off." Lisbon told him as walked over to the bathroom.
"And what will you do with those days off?"
"Lets see if you can behave yourself first."
"Little unfair but you have a deal." Jane said as he got out of bed and walked over to her. "Want some company?"
"No, you need to go home and change." She said as she closed the door in his face.
"Hmm, you have my shirt." He said.
"Here." She opened the door a crack and tossed it at him before shutting the door again. Jane heard the shower turn on and got dressed in his three-piece suit.
"See you at the scene." He shouted as he left the bedroom.
"There you are." Lisbon told Jane as he pulled up to the crime scene tape. Lisbon told herself mentally to act like nothing happened but as soon as he smiled at her she knew that they were both going to have trouble.
"Sorry there was traffic." He told her as he followed closely next to her. "You need to relax or everyone is going to suspect something." He whispered.
"And you need to stop looking so damn arrogant." She snarled.
"This is how I always look." Jane smirked. "So what happened?"
"It looks like someone was either pushed or jumped off the bridge. The M.E will let us know shortly."
"Who is the victim?" Jane asked as they arrived at the body.
"Kaylee, 28. She works as an aid to the mayor." Cho told him. Jane nodded and looked around the body.
"What do you think?" Lisbon asked.
"Suicide." Jane said.
"Are you sure or are you just saying that because you don't want to work the case?" Lisbon asked.
"Why wouldn't I want to work the case?"
"Oh, because you'd rather be sleeping on your couch." Lisbon shot back.
"I'm going to go talk to the M.E." Cho stated as he walked away from the pair.
"It isn't the couch I want to be sleeping on." Jane whispered as he walked behind Lisbon.
"Jane." Lisbon hissed and quickly looked around to make sure no one had heard his comment but couldn't help the blush that was appearing on her cheeks.
"Agent." A male voice drifted to over to the pair. Lisbon looked over and saw another CBI agent approaching.
"Agent Barnes?" Lisbon said as she held out a hand for him to shake.
"My team is taking over." Barnes said.
"What?!" Lisbon asked.
"Bertram wants you back at headquarters." Barnes stated.
"Why?"
"He wouldn't say."
Lisbon took her phone out of her pocket to check and see if she had missed any messages. "He didn't call."
"Call him then." Barnes stated. Lisbon looked at him for several seconds.
"Cho!" Lisbon yelled. Cho nodded and headed back over. "Get the team. It seems as if we are off the case."
"Boss?" Cho asked surprised.
"We will deal with it when we get back." She told him as she made her way back to where she had parked the SUV.
"What is this all about?" Jane questioned as he caught up with her.
"No clue but Bertram better have a damn good reason for taking us off." Lisbon said annoyed.
The team arrived entered the bullpen and noticed that Bertram was talking to another agent. He looked up and noticed the team. The other agents in the bullpen went suddenly quiet as they watched the team walk in.
"Agent, sorry I didn't call you but I needed to tell you something in person." Bertram told Lisbon.
"Is something wrong, sir?" Lisbon inquired.
"Agent I would like you to meet agent Bryant." Bertram said as he pointed to the middle age man. "He works for the FBI."
"Agent." Lisbon said as the two of them shook hands.
"Is there somewhere private we can talk?" Bryant asked.
"My office." Lisbon said as she led the two of them to her office. Jane followed them in.
"Jane you are not needed." Bertram stated as Jane closed the door.
"He can stay." Lisbon said quickly. "What is this about?"
"This morning my team got a call. There was a murder." Bryant stated.
"What does it have to do with me?"
"Your team is known for handling the Red John matter." Bryant stated. Lisbon could feel Jane stiffen at just hearing the name.
"Why didn't the case come to us first?" Lisbon asked.
"We were going to turn it over to your team until we found out who the victim was." Bryant said annoyed. Lisbon was starting to dislike the man with each passing second.
"Who is the victim?" Jane asked. Lisbon looked over at him and saw a look she knew all too well.
Bryant and Bertram exchanged looks with each other before Bertram spoke.
"Fingerprints identified the victim as your younger brother Thomas."
To Be Continued.
